Report from Public Health England (PHE). . .

Public Health England (PHE) has said e-cigarettes should be made available on prescription within the next few years, after an independent review of the latest evidence found at least 20,000 people a year are quitting smoking with the help of the devices. The report also found e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than smoking. As a result, PHE is calling for hospitals to be allowed to sell e-cigarettes and have designated areas where people can vape.

No e-cigarettes are currently licensed in the UK as a quit-smoking aid. However, PHE health improvement director John Newton has said there is “overwhelming evidence” the devices are far safer than smoking and “of negligible risk to bystanders”.